Meet Our Donors - Jerry & Mary Bensberg

Jerry and Mary Bensberg of Wimberley, Texas, were searching for a way to diversify their investments. One possibility was a charitable gift annuity, which would financially benefit both them and the organization they chose.

A visit to their alma mater -- Arkansas College, now Lyon -- helped them make their decision.

"That was what clinched our decision," said Mary, a retired speech therapist. “It is such a beautiful campus, and the students are wonderful. We were able to visit with several, and that made up our mind. I want our grandchildren to come here."

The Bensbergs both graduated in 1947. Mary, an only child, was guided to the school by her mother. Jerry, now a retired professor of special education and psychology, followed in the footsteps of two older siblings who graduated from AC. Both cited the school's religious affiliation as a big reason why they attended the College.

The school's willingness to work with families on a student’s tuition was another factor for Jerry. He said if someone wanted to receive a college education, the administration would find some way to help with tuition.

"Back then, there used to be these canning groups that went from town to town," Jerry said. "You would be able to can your vegetables and butcher your livestock when they came through. We'd cook stew and can it in these gallon jars. Well, I know one time my father swapped a hundred gallons of beef stew for a semester of school.

"I'm not sure my classmates appreciated that stew as much as I did though," Jerry said with a laugh.

That's why the Bensbergs felt their gifts to Lyon through a charitable gift annuity were important -- they wanted to help students make it through Lyon, whether their gift helps fund scholarships, hire faculty or is used to meet other needs.

"The good thing about a charitable gift annuity is that both we and the school benefit from it. I feel obligated to the College. The faculty really helped me mature," Jerry said.

Thanks to the Bensbergs, today's faculty can continue to help Lyon students.

Dr. Bensberg passed away in June of 2006. His wife, Mary is still living.